William w



W. W. BENNETT..

Piano-Fortes.

N0. 142,194. Patented August26,1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo WILLIAM W. BENNETT, OF JERSEY CITY, NEWJERSEY.

IMPROVEMENI IN` PIANO-FORTES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 1112, 194, dated August26, 1873', application filed January 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. BENNETT, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements inPiano-Fortes, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in the bridges ofpiano-fortes; and it consists in, Erst, the Wrest-plank bass-bridge, thebass sounding-board bridge, and the hitching-bloek, each made in two ormore separate pieces of different heights, whereby they may be placed indifferent positions with relation to each other, so as to admit of theuse of longer bass-strin gs without increasing the dimensions of thepiano, and allowing of the arrangement of the strings in differentseries or sets, each set being independent of the others in regard toits direction and its plane of elevation; second, the combination of thesuspension-bridge and the agraffes, in the manner and for the purposehereinafter particularly described; third, a grooved and perforatedmetallic plate, to be used as a substitute for the agraii'es, ashereinafter particularly described.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detached view representing a portion of thesuspension-bridge with a plate attached in lieu of the ordinaryagraftes. Fig. 3 represents agraft'es of different lengths.` Fig. 4represents one of the wrest-plank bridges having one portion higher thanthe adjoining portion.

The metal plate or frame K is made in the usual form and attached in theusual manner. The suspension-bridge A is cast or made separate from theplate K and attached afterward. The agraffes B are secured to the underside of the suspension-bridge by screwing them into holes provided forthe purpose. Instead of the agraffes I sometimes substitute a metallicplate, C, one portion of which has transverse grooves on the upper side,another portion has grooves on the under side, and still another portionhas transverse perforations about midway between its upper and lowersides, as shown in Fig. 2. When the agraft'es are used, they are made ofdilferent lengths, as shown in Fig. 3, to serve the same purpose as thegrooves and perforations in the plate C, which purpose is to allow theheight of the strings at those points to correspond with the height ofthe bridges and hitchingblocks with which they engage. The soundboardbridges D and the hitching-blocks E are made of different heights, tocorrespond with the lengths of the agraffes or the grooved or perforatedportions of the plates C to which they are opposite; and this is alsothe case with the wrest-plank bridges M. Each bridge and eachbitching-block may be made in one continuous piece, with one portionhigherl or thicker than the adjoining portion, or they may be made inseparate pieces for the different heights, which latter form will befound preferable in some cases. When made in one continuous piece, asshown in Fig. 4, it is necessary for the different portions to lie inthe same direction but when madein separate pieces for the differentheights, as shown in Fig. 1, they may be placed in different positionswith relation to each other, which arrangement admits of the use oflonger bassstrings without increasing the length or size of the piano,as it allows of their being extended in the direction of the left-handfront and right-hand rear corners of the piano, and also admits of theuse of a heavier bass-hammer and greater length of the jacks77 orflies,7 and gives the eXtreme bass-strings the advantage of resting uponwhat may be considered the best vibratory point for the uni formincrease of the volume and quality ot' the bass-strings. rlhe steelstrings F are at tached and arranged in the ordinary manner. The singleoverstrings G are attached to the lower series of bridges andbitching-blocks or the lower portions thereof, and the doubleoverstrings H are attached to the higher or thicker portions or seriesof bridges and hitching-blocks. Sustaining-bars I have their endsattached to the metal plate or frame K, as shown in Fig. 1, and may lieina direction parallel with each series of the overstrun g bass-strings.

By the construction and arrangement of parts shown in my invention, thestrings may be arranged in different series or sets, each set lying overor under or parallel with, but upon, a higher plane than the other sets,and,

bypassing the strings through the agratt'es or the grooves orperforations in the plate C, I obtain greater solidity of the strings attheir points of rest nearest the Wrest-plank, thus avoiding thesplitting of the wrestplank bridges or the tearing up or shiftingthereof, and securing a solid upward bearing, resisting the upward blowoi' the hammer in a natural direction, giving greater elearness, volume,and uniformity of tone, and preventing lateral vibration ofthe strings.Furthermore,

I produce a double overstrung bass upon the ordinary singlesounding-board.

What I elaiin as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The Wrest-plank bridges M, the sound- Witnesses:

GEORGE H. BENNETT, ROGER W. BENNETT.

